LED 's

[pete h]

A mate has some spare led brake light bulbs, does anyone know if I can just put them straight in, like he says, or if I need a relay unit fitted in case of surges or similar ?

[Austin]

I tried a red LED bulb in TA. Just a straight swap, bit it was cr@p - too faint and too directional so took it out and replaced with a standard bulb. Unless this is a white bulb with lots of multi directional LEDs don't bother would be my verdict.

[Robster]

I tried a red LED bulb in TA. Just a straight swap, bit it was cr@p - too faint and too directional so took it out and replaced with a standard bulb. Unless this is a white bulb with lots of multi directional LEDs don't bother would be my verdict.

Yup, I had the same experience on my AT...very faint and very directional. I left it in for my big trip as I had thoughts that it might stand up to vibration a bit better than a regular bulb, but my mate on an AT with the normal bulb had no bother...so a bit pointless all in all.

I'd buy one of the custom made LED rear light units if you want to go the whole hog. In fact....I did buy one didn't I?! Hmmmm must dig that out and fit it!

[StumpyFingers]

I have bought and fitted an LED unit to my TA and it works well. It is not as bulky as the standard lens assembly and it is slightly dimmer side on but from behind it seems to be as bright as the bulb, on the plus side I noticed a difference in engine response due to less drain on the electrics.
( Strange but true )

[z-weiser]

i've got a whole LED unit on mine!

looks ace and is loads brighter!

Lord Vader was the source of mine but i think they crop up on e-bay!

i used a red LED bulb on the AT behind the normal red glass and it was too dark!

best option is to either fit a white LED bulb behind the red light case or get the LED unit!

Z

[pete h]

thanks for the replies, bit of a mixed bag then,

z-weiser have you got pics of the unit fitted, mines a 99 carb model as well. ?

cheers

[z-weiser]

yip - will sort it!

or if you have a mobile that takes pic messages i have one on my phone that LV sent me!!

if you want PM me your mobile - if not no worries i'll post a pic tonight when i get home!

probably better to post tonight as i'll take a big pic not a little phone one!

Z

[MandoBear]

Slightly different, but I've tried several of the high intensity white LEDs in place of the "sidelights" on my baby Varadero. They do give a brighter, cool white light like the sidelights on the flash new Audis. However, I found the downside was that I was always replacing them - 6 or 7 in as many months... I've tried several different types and encountered the same problem - that they're not very reliable. Now it just maybe the ones I bought (off ebay - from different suppliers) were all seconds - but all of them? So I'm wondering if they're very sensitive to voltage variations or vibration or something.

Anyway, I've gone back to the old wind-up Eddison technology of glass bulbs with bits of wire in.

[Austin]

I think the problem with many LEDS is that they are made from plastic. So stick 'em too close to a hot Halogen bulb and the plastic either melts or degrades from the heat and kaput. I know you can get heat resistant one's but I haven't tried them.

[pete h]

I've had a quick search around t'internet but can't find led tail units for the vara, are these actual pattern units or just led strips inserted into the current bulb space and using the existing tail light assembly ?

Or do these lucas type lights fit into the original space ?